Become an apprentice of Jesus. That’s the focus of John Mark Comer’s new book. Practicing the Way is a practical call to action. Disciple is a noun, not a verb. What? Think about it. In the Great Commission, we’re called to make disciples. When we use “disciple” as a verb, the emphasis is on our efforts. “Disciple” as a noun puts the responsibility on the learner, the apprentice, the follower. Be with Jesus. Become like him. Do as he did. That’s the subtitle of Practicing the Way. And a life changing strategy.

  Back in the ‘70s, Mr. Spock was my hero. I wanted to be a Vulcan so I didn’t have to deal with emotions. So Jennie Allen’s Untangle Your Emotions hit me where it hurts. In a good way! It’s the perfect companion to her previous book, Get Out of Your Head. With the pair, she walks you through taking your thoughts captive and managing your emotions. She does a great job of showing that emotions aren’t sinful, but what we do with them can lead us into sin. Emotions are a gift. A gift that can be mishandled. This book is an encouraging read for anyone who struggles with…

It Is Finished: A 40-Day Pilgrimage Back to the Cross by Charles Martin is a glorious book. He begins with our need for redemption and inability to save ourselves and brings us to the cross. This is an achingly beautiful devotional written to prepare our hearts and minds to celebrate Jesus’s redemptive work on the cross. From the author’s website: Across forty days of vivid storytelling, It Is Finished offers a unique and vital roadmap to trace the power and necessity of the cross throughout the Bible, from Genesis all the way to your present-day reality. With every devotion, designed to be the length of about a cup of coffee, Charles Martin…